Pre-Islamic period Dibba Al-Hisn has been an important site of maritime trade and settlement since the
pre-Islamic era. Although there is slight information, mainly from tombs, of settlement during the later second millennium and early first millennium
BCE, contemporary with such sites as
Shimal, Tell Abraq and Rumeilah, and of scattered occupation during the period of al-Dur and
Mileiha, most mention of Dibba is in the period just prior to and after the coming of Islam. Under the
Sasanians and their Omani clients the Al-Juland, an important market existed at Dibba. Dibba was sometimes the capital of Oman. According to Ibn Habib, "merchants from
Sindh, India, China, people of the East and West" came to it.
Islamic period • (632 - 633
CE) Soon after the death of
Muhammad, a rebellion broke out at Dibba, and a faction of the
Azd, led by
Laqit bin Malik, nicknamed
Thu at-Taj ("The Crowned"), rejected Islam by refusing to pay the
Zakat — the Islamic principle of giving a percentage of one's income to charity. Since Zakat is one of the
five pillars of Islam, this faction committed an act of
Ridda (
apostasy), according to Islamic beliefs. Laqit was killed by an envoy of the caliph
Abu Bakr, in accord with one tradition, in what may have been a relatively small struggle; however, other sources, including
Al-Tabari, say that at least 10,000 rebels were killed in one of the biggest battles of the
Ridda wars (). The plain behind the Omani part of Dibba,
Dibba Al-Baya, still contains a large cemetery, which, according to local tradition, represents the fallen apostates of Dibba (
Al-Murtaddeen). • During the time of the
Abbasid caliph Al Mu'tadid (870 - 892 CE), a great battle was fought at Dibba during the conquest of Oman by the Abbasid governor of Iraq and Bahrain,
Muhammad bin Nur.
Colonial period Portuguese occupation (1624 - 1648 CE) Dibba Al-Hisn is believed to be the site where the Portuguese during the
Habsburg Dynasty built a fort and a wall around the city. In August 1648, the Arabs besieged
Muscat, Oman, and on October 31, 1648, a treaty was signed between the two opponents. The terms required the Portuguese to abandon the fortress of
Kuriyat, Dibba Al-Hisn and
Matrah (Oman).
Modern Time Dibba Al-Hisn has transformed in a short period of time from an oasis residing in the past, into a thriving city that is being renewed at an increasing pace. There were
land disputes between Dibba Al-Hisn and
Dibba Al-Baya, but they were resolved in the 1990s.
List of rulers of Dibba • Under a
Hakim • Sheikh Ahmad ibn Sultan al-Qasimi (1871–1883). • Sheikh Rashid ibn Ahmad al-Qasimi (1883–1937) :— with Sheikh Khalid II ibn Ahmad al-Qasimi (1903–1924) • Sheikh Ahmad ibn Rashid al-Qasimi (1937–1951) • reincorporated into Sharjah :
This timeline states events related to Dibba of UAE — Dibba Al-Fujairah and Dibba Al-Hisn. •
June 3, 1973: UAE president Sheikh
Zayed began an inspection tour of the Northern Emirates, including
Ras al-Khaimah,
Al-Rams, Dibba Al-Hisn,
Dibba Al-Fujairah,
Khor Fakkan,
Fujairah, and
Masafi. •
September 10, 1974: Mohammad Khalifa Al Kindi signed a
AED 52 million contract for the construction and surfacing of the road between
Khor Fakkan and Dibba (the
E99 road). •
June 9, 1975: The Ministry of Communication in a memorandum asked the Supreme Council of the Federation for the authority to supervise transportation, the control of air space in all airports and all agreements made with airline companies in all the emirates. The Council of Ministers approved the construction of the highway between
Dibba Al-Fujairah and
Masafi at a cost of AED 94.5 Million. •
July 23, 1976: Sheikh
Zayed visited
Fujairah. He also inspected the new
Dibba Al-Fujairah -
Khor Fakkan highway project (the E99 road) and visited
Falaj Al-Mualla village. •
January 19, 1977: The Federal Council of Ministers approved a number of projects costing AED 56 million, including water distribution in
Ajman and Dibba. •
January 10, 1978:
Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi opened the
wharf at Dibba Al-Hisn, which can accommodate 80 fishing boats. Part of the port will be used as ships' berths. •
February 7, 1978: The Ministry of Water and Electricity announced that the east coast from Dibba to Fujairah had been connected through an electrical feeder station. •
January 11, 1979: The AED 14 million electrical plant in
Dibba Al-Fujairah was opened by
Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi. •
May 27, 1980: Sheikh
Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum ordered the immediate commencement of the 100-bed extension to the
Dibba Al-Fujairah and
Khor Fakkan hospitals. •
November 19, 1980: Sheikh
Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi laid the foundation stone for the AED 350 million
Fujairah Cement Factory in
Dibba Al-Fujairah. == Sports ==